Buzzi



TEN-KEY VALUE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 8, l95l 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

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' Inventor Riccardo, BUZZ/ A Home y Dec. 2 1, 1954 R. BUZZI 2,697,552

TEN-KEY VALUE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 15mm 31/22 By W t Z.

Attorney all of said setting levers United States Patent M TEN-KEY VALUE INDEXING MECHANISM Riccardo Buzzi, Milan, Italy, assignor to Italo Rizzieri, Milan, Italy Application March 8, 1951, Serial No. 214,522 Claims priority, application Italy April 1, 1950 8 Claims. (Cl. 235-145) This invention relates to a ten-key indexing mechanism for adding and calculating machines, and more particularly to a ten-key value indexing mechanism for adding and calculating machines having a multi-order actuator comprised of a denominational series of reciprocable racks connected to and differentially movable by oscillatable levers adapted to rotate about an adjustable pivot and having an escapement mechanism for denominationally adjusting the indexing mechanism relative to the actuator. The ten-key indexing mechanism according to the invention is especially adapted for, though not limited to, adding and calculating machines of the type described in applicants copending U. S. patent application Ser. No. 205,071, filed on January 9, 1951, for a Calculating Machine Possessing a Mechanism for Direct Operation of the Totalizer, Operatively Dependent From Figure-Setting Members.

An object of the invention is to eliminate springs for the actuation of elements of the indexing mechanism proper so as to reduce the friction losses to a minimum and to provide for a smooth operation of the machine to which the indexing mechanism is applied.

Another object of the invention is to improve on the art of ten-key indexing mechanisms for adding and calculating machines as now ordinarily made.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a ten-key value indexing mechanism according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the ten-key value indexing mechanism shown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of some essential parts of said mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the ten-key indexing mechanism shown in the drawings is designed for a calculating machine of the type disclosed in my copending U. S. patent application Ser. No. 205,071 mentioned above, wherein the register for the entry of digital values is directly operated by double-rack plates actuated by oscillating levers, the fulcrum point of which is varied according to the digital value to be set. The setting members are, therefore, designed to furnish said variable fulcrum point of the levers operating the double-rack lates.

p Such members consist of a series of setting levers 1 pivoted on a shaft 2 and balanced in a state of indifferent equilibrium. Fig. 2 shows only four levers 1, but it is understood that the number of levers 1 corresponds to the number of actuator orders. Furthermore, I may be denominationally shifted along said shaft 2, step by step, at each setting of a digital value, by an escanement mechanism of a type known per se. For simplicitys sake, Fig. 1 shows only one setting lever 1. The position of said setting lever 1 shown in full lines in said Fig. 1 represents an intermediate position.

The position of said setting levers 1 may be adjusted by the actuation of a rocker 3 pivotally mounted on a shaft 4. Said rocker 3 is in a condition of indifferent equilibrium and may be rocked about the axis of said shaft 4. For the sake of better illustration Fig. 3 shows only one setting lever 1 and the rocker 3 is shown in said Fig. 3 somewhat to the left of the vertical plane of said setting lever 1. In fact. however, the rocker 3 is permanently located to the right in a vertical plane substantiallycoinciding with the vertical plane of said 2,697,552 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 setting lever 1 shown in Fig. 3. The right hand ends (as viewed in Fig. 3) of a pair of rods 16 extending parallel to the shaft 4 are rigidly connected with said rocker 3. The other ends of said rods 16 are rigidly connected with a plate 30 pivotally mounted on the shaft 4 (see Fig. 2). The length of said rods 16 is slightly larger than the distance between the first and the last lever of a series of digit-key levers 5 pivotally mounted on a shaft 6 fixed to the frame of the machine.

Return springs 7 (only one spring and only one digitkey lever 5 being shown in Fig. 1) attached at one of their ends to a point 8 of the digit-key levers 5 and at their other end to a fixed point 9 of the frame of the machine tend to urge said digit-key levers 5 into their inactive positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, the left hand lower edge 10 of the digitkey lever 5 is in the shape of a straight line. The inclination of the left hand lower edges of the various digitkey levers 5 varies in dependence on the digital value shown on the digit-keys 11 arranged on each lever 5.

When a digit-key lever 5 is depressed into the position 5 (Fig. 1) against the action of its spring 7, the left hand lower edge 10 is brought into firm engagement with both rods of the pair of rods 16 connected with the rocker 3, so that, depending on the shape of said left hand lower edge of the digit-key lever 5 the rocker 3 is swung from its intermediate position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 into a setting position, for example into the 9 position 3 shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 1. As a result of such a displacement of the rocker 3 into the position 3', the setting lever 1 being at that moment in cooperative relation to said rocker 3 below the latter is swung by said rocker 3 from its intermediate position 1 into the 9 position 1' shown in dash and dot lines which presets the setting of the digital value 9 shown on the depressed digit-key 11.

Each of the setting levers 1 is provided at one of its ends with a projecting pin 12 capable of cooperation with corresponding notches 13 of curved oscillatable levers 14, which, for example, may actuate double-rack plates 15 of a calculating machine according to my copending patent application Ser. No. 205,071 above referred to. The length of each pin 12 projecting at both sides of the lever 1 is somewhat larger than the distance between two adjacent oscillatable levers 14, so that during denominational shifting of the setting levers 1, a pin 12 is already engaged with the notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the next higher order before it becomes disengaged from the notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the lower order.

The rocker 3 set in a predetermined position by a digit-key lever 5 through the medium of the pair of rods i 16 as described above does not act directly on the setting levers 1. The rocker 3 is equipped with a pair of lugs 17, 17 pivoted on opposite sides of the rocker 3 at 18 and 18' respectively. Said lugs 17 and 17 may perform oscillations in planes parallel to each other and at right angles to the plane defined by the rods 16. The lugs 17 and 17' depending from the rocker 3 act on diametrically disposed profiled lips 19 of the setting lever 1 located below said lugs for setting said setting lever 1 in a predetermined position. The lugs 17 and 17' are arranged in such a manner that they resist a movement in clockwise direction around their pivots 18 and 18 respectively (as viewed in Fig. 3), when a lip 19 of a setting lever 1 comes into engagement with such a lug 17 or 17' respectively during an axial and denominational shifting of said setting levers 1 in left hand direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) by the escapement mechanism. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the lug 17 is prevented from rotation in clockwise direction by a stop 40 arranged on the rocker 3 for cooperation with said lug 17. Thus, the lug 17 or 17' of the rocker 3 set in a predetermined position may cause a swinging movement of the setting lever I acted upon into a corresponding predetermined set position. This setting of the setting levers 1 may be readily carried out as, as may be gathered from Fig. 2, the setting lever in right hand direction (as viewed in Fig. 3), the lug 17 or 17' of the rocker 3 engaged by a setting lever 1 being in a position not parallel to the position of the rocker 3 may swing about its pivot 13 in counterclockwise direction so as to permit the passage of the set of setting levers 1.

As mentioned above, the rocker 3 remains in a predetermined vertical plane, so that its plane of oscillation remains unchanged. Thus, the plane of oscillation of the rocker 3 comes into register with the planes of oscillation of the setting levers 1 when the setting of the digital values progresses and the setting levers are axially and denominationally shifted. When the setting of a first setting lever 1 has been accomplished, by actuating any one of the digit-keys, the entire group of setting levers 1 is displaced by one step to the left (as viewed in Fig. 3) by means of the above mentioned escapement mechanism (not shown), which is rendered active by the digit-keys. During this denominational shifting the pin 12 of the first setting lever 1 thus set comes into engagement with a notch 13 of the first oscillatable lever 14; at the same time said first setting lever 1 thus set is moved out of the range of action of rocker 3, while the next following setting lever 1 at the right is placed within the range of action of said rocker 3, so that it may be acted upon in a similar way, if so desired, by means of a digit-key.

In order that the oscillatable lever 14 may operate as required according to my copending patent application Ser. No. 205,071, it is necessary that, at the very moment when it is caused to be pivotally engaged with the pin 12, it is disengaged from a rod 20 (corresponding to numerical value zero) to which it is normally connected. To this end, said rod 20, common to all actuating levers 14-, is carried by an arm 21 connected to a shiftable rod 22 axially guided in the machine frame and to which is fixed an arm 23 slidably supported on rod 2 and embracing the setting levers 1 to form a shiftable carriage for the setting levers. Thus, each step performed by the carriage toward the left of Fig. 3 causes the engagement of one of pins 12 of setting levers 1 with a notch 13 of one of the oscillatable levers 14 and the simultaneous disengagement therefrom of pin 20. The translation mechainsm (not shown) acts on a rack 24 secured to the arm 21.

For a better understanding of the drawings and greater simplicity of description, Fig. 3 shows only one of the setting levers 1 and rocker 3 is displaced somewhat to the left of the position that it normally occupies; but it is obvious that the number of these setting levers that are operatively connected, as concerns denominational shifting along rod 2, to the carriage may be varied at will in proportion with the maximum number of digital values to be set; for the same reason said Fig. 3 illustrates only the two end levers 14, between which any number of levers may be interposed in accordance with the capacity of the machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ends of the setting levers 1 opposite to the ends carrying the pins 12, are box-shaped so that they may be used for receiving additional material so as to obtain a perfect balancin of said levers.

The indexing device according to the invention may be operated as follows:

Assume, the number 37 shall be set. At first the digit-key lever 5 bearing the digit 3 is depressed whereby thepin 12 of the first setting lever 1 at the left hand end of the series of setting levers is brought into a position for engagement with a notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the lowest order upon a subse- N quent denominational shifting of the series of setting levers 1. Then the digit-key lever 5 bearing the digit 7 is depressed for setting the next setting lever of the series of setting levers 1. Unon a denominational shifting of the series of setting levers 1, the pin 12 of th first mentioned setting lever 1 at the left hand end of the series of levers 1 is brought into engagement with a notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the second lowest order and disengaged from the notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the lowest order. As the pin 12 is somewhat larger than the distance between the oscillatable levers 14 of the lowest order and second lowest order, the engagement of the pin 12 with the notch of the oscillatable lever 14 of the second lowest order takes place before the pin 12 .-is disengaged fromthe notch of the oscillatable lever 14 of the lowest order. Thus, the first mentioned setting lever 1 with its pin 12 retains the position wherein it has been previously set by the rocker 3 upon depressing of the digit-key lever 5 with the digit 3. During the last mentioned denominational shifting of the setting levers 1, the pin 12 of the second mentioned setting lever 1 set for the value 7 is brought into engagement with a notch 13 of the oscillatable lever 14 of the lowest order.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those, herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Ten-key value indexing mechanism for adding and calculating machines having a multi-order actuator comprised of a denominational series of reciprocable racks connected to and differentially movable by oscillatable levers adapted to rotate about an adjustable pivot and having an escapement mechanism for denominationally adjusting the indexing mechanism relative to the actuator, said indexing mechanism comprising in combination: a first shaft, a series of settable digit-key levers pivotally mounted on said first shaft, each of said digitkey levers having a profiled edge, the profiled edges of said digit-key levers being of different shape depending on the digital value of the digit-key lever, resilient means connected with said digit-key levers for urging same into an inactive position, a second shaft parallel to said first shaft, a rocking element pivotally mounted on said second shaft, said rocking element extending through the range of and cooperating with the entire series of swingable digit-key levers and having a uniform configuration at its points of cooperation with the profiled edges of said digit-key levers, each of said settable digit-key levers being capable of setting said rocking element by means of its profiled edge in a predetermined rotational position corresponding to the digital-value of the digit-key lever, a third shaft parallel to said before mentioned shafts, and a row of setting levers pivoted on said third shaft, said setting levers being operatively connected so as to form a group for joint axial denominational shifting by the escapement mechanism along said third shaft, relative to the oscillatable levers and to said rocking element, said rocking element being arranged for individual cooperation with a setting lever of said group of setting levers placed in register with said rocking element whereby said setting lever may be set in an angular position corresponding to the position of the rocking element, each setting lever having a pivot pin capable of cooperative engagement with an oscillatable lever to determine its axis of oscillation.

2. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said setting levers being in the shape of doublearmed levers having balanced arms so as to be in an indiiferent equilibrium.

3. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said rocking element projecting laterally from opposite sides of said second shaft, and the projecting portions of said rocking element being balanced whereby said rocking element is in an indifferent equilibrium.

4. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said rocking element projecting laterally from opposite sides of said second shaft, and a pair of lugs pivotally mounted on said rocking element at opposite sides of the latter, said lugs being rockable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis of said second shaft, and said lugs being arranged for cooperation with said setting levers.

5. In a ten-key value mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a carriage slidably arranged on said third shaft, said setting levers being engaged with said carriage for joint displacement with the latter, and said carriage being arranged for connection with and operation by the escapement mechanism.

6. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, a carriage slidably arranged on said third shaft, said setting levers being engaged with said carriage for joint displacement with the latter, said carriage being arranged for connection with and operation by the escapement mechanism, and a zero setting-element on 3 said carriage, said 'ZCIO setting-element being arranged for cooperative engagement with the oscillatable levers and being in engagement with the entire row of oscillatable levers when the entire group of setting levers is disengaged from said row of oscillatable levers, said zero setting-element terminating near to the plane of the first setting lever of the group of setting levers whereby during a shifting of said carriage said zero settingelement is disengaged from those oscillatable levers which become engaged with setting levers.

7. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said oscillatable levers having a row of notches, and, said pivot pins being capable of engagement with a notch of the series of notches on said oscillatable levers and forming its axis of oscillation.

8. In a ten-key value indexing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said oscillatable levers having a row of notches, said pivot pins being capable of engagement with a notch of the series of notches on said oscillatable levers and forming its axis of oscillation, a carriage slidably arranged on said third shaft, and setting levers being engaged with said carriage for joint displacement with the latter, said carriage being arranged for connection with and operation by the escapement mechanism, and a zero setting-rod connected with said carriage, said zero settingrod being arranged for cooperative engagement with the oscillatable levers and being in engagement with the zeronotch of each of said oscillatable levers when the pins of the entire group of setting levers are disengaged from notches of said oscillatable levers, said zero setting-rod terminating near to the plane passing through the end face of the pin of the first setting lever of the group of setting levers whereby during a shifting of said carriage said zero setting-rod is disengaged from the zero-notch of those oscillatable levers which become engaged with pins of setting levers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 765,744 Goldberg July 26, 1904 1,188,878 Austin June 27, 1916 1,302,501 Bontempi May 6, 1919 1,832,791 Rndin Nov. 17, 1931 2,590,345 Reppert Mar. 25, 1952 

